Baltimore circuit courts reopen after Legionella remediation, retesting

Racquel Bazos, The Baltimore Sun on Dec 27, 2024

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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City circuit courthouses and the District Court on East Fayette Street reopened Thursday after being treated for Legionella bacteria earlier this week.

Legionella is the bacteria which can cause Legionnaire’s disease, a severe form of pneumonia. The city recommended the courthouses close last week despite the health department not requiring such a measure.

The courthouses were retested for the bacteria after being treated Monday and Tuesday.

No cases of Legionnaire’s disease have been reported in connection to the courthouses or any of the other city buildings where high levels of the bacteria were detected.

Government buildings across Baltimore are under scrutiny for Legionella due to a new proactive testing regime from the state Department of General Services.

Since November, four office buildings and five total courthouses have tested with high levels of the bacteria. Several of the buildings have since been cleared.

Test results are currently pending for the Abel Wolman building at 200 Holliday Street, the Benton Building at 401 E. Fayette Street and City Hall at 100 Holliday Street. Results from those tests are expected to return Jan. 5, a statement from the mayor’s office said last week.

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